Russia: the Red Flag

Question	Answer
Explain why there was a revolution in Russia in January 1905?	Long term-Poor living conditions of peasants. -Middle classes angry at Tsar as they want a say in things. Short term- Industrial development had bad effect on people and poor harvest. -Tsar blamed for loss in Russo-Japanese War; conditions even worse. -Worker grievances. Immediate- Bloody Sunday
Why was the Orthodox Church so important in Tsarist Russia?	-Most Russians were religious. -Holy men were held in very high regard. -Close link between Church and Tsar. -Church supported Tsarist rule. -Orthodox Church was largest in Russia. -Orthodox church was wealthy. -Orthodox Church controlled education. -Church encouraged people to think of the Tsar as their "little father".
Describe the living conditions of peasants before WW1?	-Peasants pay higher taxes. -Workers wages went down. -Poor harvest 1900-02. -Starvation. -Outbreaks of violence. -Less food due to Russo-Japanese War higher prices as well. -Factories closed down: unemployment.
Describe the events of Bloody Sunday?	striking factory workers in St Petersburg marched to the Winter Palace  the march was led by Father Gapon, a police spy  the police had asked the marchers to go home/not to march  the workers wanted to petition the Tsar about their working conditions/long hours and low pay  the crowd was large (200,000) but peaceful and included women and children  marchers wore their Sunday clothes, sang hymns and carried icons and pictures of the Tsar  the Tsar was not there but the palace and the streets round it were guarded by troops  mounted Cossacks at the front charged the marchers  soldiers panicked and opened fire, killing and injuring many (between 100 and 1000 depending on source).
Describe the 1905 revolution?	January- Bloody Sunday February- strikes; workers demanded higher wages and shorter hours. March/May- Potemkin Mutinies. May/June/July- Middle Classes demanding more rights; peasants riot; poor conditions and starvation. September- Peace treaty with Japan; troops back in Russia. October- General strikes across Russia; barricades; 30th manifesto formed by Tsar- Duma elected by the people; civil rights and uncensored newspapers. December- All troops back start to regain control.
Describe the methods used by the Tsar to maintain control over Russia before 1914?	-Uses secret police to spy on the cities (Ochrana). -The nature of Government bureaucracy. -Use of army to control demonstrations. -Use of Orthodox church to keep peasants obedient. -Used control over Duma's to limit reform granted. -Use of executions and exile of opponents. -Stolypin.
Describe the role of the Duma in Russia between 1906-1914?	-Allowed discussion of issues raised by the masses. -Gave industrial/agricultural reforms. -Gave an opportunity for political representation. -Role of Stolypin-provided strong leadership. -Provided an alternative powerbase to the Tsar. -Under the influence of the Tsar- very little impact.
Why did the lives of some peasants improve as a result of Stolypin's reforms?	-Peasants could consolidate the size of their holdings. -Peasant banks were set up to allow peasants to buy more land. -Peasants were able to invest in more modern methods they made greater profit/grain production increased. • Cancellation of debt. • Land inherited by the eldest son only. • Peasants could buy their way out of the mir. • Peasants encouraged to move to find new land.
Explain why there was discontent among Russian industrial workers in the years leading up to 1914?	wages were low and working conditions were poor working hours were very long/12 hour shifts high number of deaths from accidents and work related health problems/poor diet poor living conditions/shared rooms in tenement blocks/barrack style buildings next to factories no privacy or private space/shared beds occupied in shifts/curtains in place of walls under surveillance by Okhrana/police spies infiltrated the unions did not have full voting rights strikes/protests often put down by police or government troops eg Bloody Sunday, Lena Goldfields food shortages.
What were the effects of WW1 on Russia?	• Outbreak of war led to patriotic demonstrations. • Increasing economic hardship was caused by shortages of fuel and food. • There was increasing bereavement due to heavy losses in battles. • The increase in conscription left fewer people to work the land. • Rising inflation meant prices rose ahead of wages. • People lost faith in their leaders. • Anti-German feeling led to distrust of the Tsarina. • There was a growing desire for peace by 1917.
Why had the Russian Royal Family become increasingly unpopular by 1917?	Nicholas and Alexandra were unwilling to give up autocratic rule Tsar did not let Duma run the country/largely ignored it Tsar left Alexandra in charge of the government which was disastrous Alexandra was influenced by Rasputin to sack ministers. from recall: Tsar took personal charge at the Front so was personally blamed for the heavy losses/general impact of war Alexandra was German and was thought by some to be a spy Rasputin was thought to be Alexandra‟s lover and this brought Royal Family into disrepute Alexandra ignored the growing problems faced by the workers.
Explain why there was a revolution in Russia in Feb/March 1917?	 the war was going badly; millions had died/soldiers were reluctant to fight  peasants became angry about the conscription/loss of so many young men  shortages of workers on the land meant food was in short supply, especially in the cities  poor organisation of transport stopped fuel and materials getting to the towns  inflation was very high; 300% increase in cost of living  many people were working long hours for the war effort BUT many people were out of work as factories ran out of materials  the winter was very cold and people were freezing because of lack of food and fuel  middle classes wanted more say in running the government  the Tsar and Tsarina were blamed for the failure to win, people had no faith in their rulers  suspicion over Tsarina’s German nationality  concern at the influence of Rasputin on Tsarina.
Describe the problems facing the Provisional Government in 1917?	Lenin published the April Theses which encouraged a new revolution war was going badly eg failure of June offensive soldiers were deserting in large numbers peasants were seizing the land increasing hardships for industrial workers eg shortages activities of the soviets eg Soviet Number 1 undermined government control demonstrations against the government in July Kornilov revolt showed weakness of the government Petrograd and Moscow soviets voted to support Bolsheviks Lenin’s return to Finland station.
In what ways did the Civil War affect the Russian people?	• most of the Russian economy taken over by the state to supply Reds • foodstuffs were forcibly requisitioned from peasants by requisition squads • peasants were imprisoned or shot for hoarding grain • peasants ceased to produce surplus food in retaliation • famine resulted and millions died • cholera and typhus broke out killing thousands more • both Reds and Whites terrorised the peasants • food and fuel were rationed in the cities as supplies were inadequate/black market and bartering began • large enterprises were nationalized and strikes made illegal.
Explain why the Provisional Government had lost popular support by October 1917.	Provisional Government was not elected so lacked legitimacy/failed to hold elections Provisional Government failed to end the war/war going badly/failure of June offensive Provisional Government failed to give land to the peasants Provisional Government failed to help unemployed or raise wages Provisional Government failed to solve food shortages Provisional Government could not govern without co-operation of Petrograd Soviet Order Number One – soldiers should obey officers only if the orders did not contradict decrees of the Petrograd Soviet – weakened the Provisional Government‟s authority with the army Lenin returned and proclaimed the „April Theses‟ (peace, bread, land) refusing support for the Provisional Government Provisional Government looked ineffective during Kornilov Revolt.
Why were the Bolsheviks able to take over in October/November 1917?	-won majority in the election -peasants rioted -Kerensky sent troops which made them hate the PG even more. -Lenin returned from Finland -Lenin persuaded them on 23rd to take power, Trotsky told him to wait. -7th November the Red guard began to take key places. -Kerensky fled in car and Bolsheviks advanced onto the winter palace. -Battleship 'Aurora' fired blank to signal attack. -They brushed aside the remaining troops and the PG gave up.
Explain why there was a revolution in Russia in October/November 1917?	-Bolsheviks had been planning. -Peasants angry at lack of reform; they seized land and proved the PG was powerless. -People wanted peace. -Soldiers were deserting. -PG hadn't been elected and made bad decision to stay in war. -War was going badly. -The PS came under Bolshevik control.
Describe Lenin's return to Russia in April 1917?	Lenin returned to Petrograd after being in exile for many years. He was greeted with a warm reception from Bolshevik supporters. He climbed onto an armoured car and made a speech demanding: -Pull out of the war -No cooperation between Soviets and PG -Land shared amongst peasants -Workers take control of factories -Soviets should take power. These were later written up and known as the April Thesis.
Describe the changes Lenin made in Russia by 1921?	-Max 8hr day for industrial workers -Employment insurance for workers for injuries, illness and unemployment etc. -All titles and class distinctions abolished. -Woman=men -Non Bolshevik newspapers banned. -Cadets banned. -Factories controlled by workers. -Banks taken over by government. -More democratic army. -Church land taken by state. -Divorce made easier and marriages don't have to be in churches.
Describe how war communism effected the people of Russia during the civil war?	-Private trade was banned and factories were taken over by the government. -They took the crops and supplies to feed the army. -done to win the war but to keep power and do what they want politically; used cheka to keep things in order. -Rationing; priority was given to the workers, sailors and soldiers. -Food supplies dictatorship: Forced peasants to hand over grain. -International passports put in place to stop workers slipping out of town. -Old managers put back in charge of factories as they 'knew how to get things done'.
What happened in the Kronstadt Mutiny?	-Sailors formed MRC and declare independence. -They demand freedom of speech and elections etc. -They repel the first Red attack killing 80% of the Red soldiers. -Viewed as a spark for revolution. -Kronstadt was taken by Trotsky's troops after high casualties and the rebels were shot, imprisoned, executed or exiled.
Describe the New Economic Policy introduced by the Bolsheviks in 1921?	-Peasants no longer forced grain off of them; they were taxed a small amount each year but the rest they could sell themselves. -Traders could buy and sell goods. -Smaller factories making consumer goods were given back to their previous owners; they could sell goods and make a profit. -Larger industries remained under state control; some factories were allowed to sell their products. -Foreign trade was encouraged. -New currency was introduced. -Lenin implemented electricity nationwide.
Why did the Bolsheviks win the Civil War?	-The Reds were based in the industrial heartland of Russia and controlled the armament factories of Petrograd. They also held the major cities. -The Red army was huge. Up to 5m men at one point. -Reds controlled the rail network, making supply and communications easier. -Red leadership was excellent. Trotsky was outstanding. He travelled around Russia in his train with his elite force. His train had specialist street fighters and even a printing press on board. -The Bolsheviks had popular support from the 1917 rebels. -Trotsky was able to encourage millions of men to join from virtually nothing. -Reds used propaganda everywhere.
Why did the whites lose the civil war?	-The whites never got peasant support. They failed to answer the land question and promoted the idea of giving the land back to the nobles. -The calls for the Tsars return were not popular. -Whites were dependant on foreign help. This made them even more unpopular and it looked like an invasion. -White leadership was divided. Kornilov and Alexeev fought, and there were continuous squabbles among the leaders. -The White leadership was top heavy. Captains and Colonels were forced to serve as privates. They resented doing this. -The Whites plans were dated and old fashioned.

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